Ex-forest preserve employee charged with bribery

CHICAGO — A former employee for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County has been charged with bribery for allegedly accepting $10,000 in kickbacks to steer business to a contractor.

Prosecutors announced the two counts of federal bribery against 52-year-old Joseph Mollica of Elmwood Park on Thursday.

A complaint cites an informant as telling Mollica as he counted out a $4,000 bribe, "(That's) 4,000 four-thousand, my little buddy, and lunch is on you (Mollica)." The two then walked into a restaurant. Prosecutors say the contractor was cooperating with an FBI sting.

Mollica worked as an assistant engineer for the agency and recently resigned.